Method and apparatus for testing sealed containers



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METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TESTING SEA LEDv CONTAINERS Filed June 11. 1928 15 Sheets-Sheet 1O METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TESTING SEALED CONTAINERS Filed June 11. 1s Sheets-Sheet 0st. 6, 1931. F. H. LANDRUM 1,825,745

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TESTING SEALED CONTAINERS Filed June 11. 1928 15 Sheets-Sheet l2 Oct, 6, 1931. LANDRUM 1,825,745

METHOD AND APPARATJS FOR TESTING SEALED CONTAINERS Filed Jun'e 11. 1928 15 Sheets-Sheet 1s JQ Bo moemtoz jug 3 2i 0st. 6, 1931. F. H. LANDRUM 1,325,745

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METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TESTING SEALED CONTAINERS F. H. LANDRUM Filed June 11, 1928 15 Sheets-Sheet 16 Patented 0a. ,6, 1931 FRANCIS H. LANDBUH, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TESTING SEALED CONTAIDIERS Application filed June 11,

The invention relaltes to an' apparatus for testing sealed containers, operating on the general principle of the machines disclosed in my prior applications Serial Nos. 225,133 and 225,134, filed October 10, 1927, the machine being of the same general type as that disclosed in the latter application and presenting certain improvements in structure and operation, first, to standardize the resiliency of the flipping sections of the containers to be tested;-secon'd, to provide mechanism of a somewhat more efiicient character to segregate the containers deficient in vacuum; and third, to provide a machine as a whole that may, be operated at a relatively higher speed than the machines of said copending applications without sacrificing any of the elements of efficiency of the apparatus.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 11 is a front elevation of the apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same,

Fig. 3 is a right side elevation.

Fig. 4 is a left side elevation.

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional elevation through the middle of the machine.

Fig. 6 is a rear elevation. v

Fig. 7 is a front elevation of one of the vacuum chambers.

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the same.

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 7 with certain parts omitted.

Fig. 10 is a rear elevation of one of the vacuum chambers. j I

Fig. 11 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a testing unit including a-vacuum chamber and the reciprocating plunger associated therewith.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary detail of the plunger. X

Fig; 13 is a cross section through'the plunger and its support.

Fig. 14 is a detail of the drive shaft and its associated elements, with certain of the parts shown in section.

Fig. 15 is a sectional elevation of the automatic pressure control valve.

Fig. 16 is an enlarged-elevation of the 1928. Serial No. 284,855.

Fig. 21- is an enlarged view similar to .0

Fig. 20, showing the parts in detail and in their relative arrangement.

Fig. 22 is a sectional elevation of the central distributing valve and some of its accessories.

Fig. 23 is a front elevation of said valve.

Fig. 24 is a vertical section through the valve.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates the base plate or table having legs2, the said base plate constituting a support for the entire apparatus. Secured to the upper face of the base plate 1 are A frames 3 and .3, to the upper portions of which are secured journal housings 4 and 4 in which is supported a horizontal shaft 6, which runs in anti-friction bearings 7 and 8, which are secured within the housings 4 and 4, respectively, the central opening in the housing being closed by a suitable plate 9 to admit of the space about the end of the shaft and the anti-friction bearings being filled with a suitable lubricant. The central opening in the housing 4, through which the end of the shaft 6 extends, is closed by an annular member 10, which likewise seals the opening about the shaft and theanti-friction bearing to provide a lubrication chamber.

Mounted near the outer end of the shaft 6 is a worm wheel 11, which is loosel journalled on a collar or bushing 12, w ich is secured to the shaft by a set screw 13. Locked to the end of the shaft by a spline or key 15 is a generally elliptical plate 14, connected to the worm gear 11 by means of a shear pin 18, which engages registering bushings 16 and 17 mounted in registering openings-in the plate 14 and the web of the worm gear 11, said bushings preferably being of hardened steel, the pin 18 serving to drive the shaft 6 with the worm gfgr 11, when the latter is rotated, but yiel g to shearing stresses imposed by the bushings 16 and 17, when excessive strains are put upon or developed in any part of the apparatus, so hat said pin will be sheared and thereby relieve the rest of the mechanism from the damagin stresses.

In order to initiate t e rotary movement of the worm gear 11 when the machine is started up and to relieve the shear pin 18 from the heavy starting stresses, the plate 14 carries a relatively heavy spring actuated bolt or pin 20, which is adapted to be moved into engagement with a socket or recess in a plug 19 fixed to the hub or web of the worm gear 11, said bolt or pin being manually engaged with the socket of the plug 19, when the machine is to be started, and being automatically retracted from such engagement, when released by the hand of the o rator after the machine has been sta The worm gear 11'is driven by a worm 22 secured to a transverse shaft 21 journalled in anti-friction bearings 26, which, in turn, are mounted in housings 25 secured to brackets 27 carried by the A frame 3.

The construction and arrangement of the shaft 21 and its accessories is illustrated in detail in Fig. 14. J ournalled on the bushing 31 on the outer end of the shaft is a s rocket 28, which, as shown in Figs. 1 an 3, is driven by a chain 29 engaging the relatively small sprocket 30 on the shaft of an electric motor '31, which latter is secured to the under face of the table 1. On the extreme outer end of the shaft is a hand wheel 34 threaded to the shaft and locked thereto b a set screw 35 with an anti-friction bearing interposed between the hub of the hand wheel 34 and the hub of the sprocket 28. The inner face of the sprocket 28 is provided with a flange 36, which forms one member of a friction clutch by means. of which the sprocket is engaged with and drives the shaft 21. The cooperating clutch member 39 is formed on the endof sleeve 37 slidable upon but rotatable with the shaft 21, the engaging' face of the clutch member 39 bein provide with a friction band 40. Mounted on the sleeve 37 is a collar 44, which abuts a shoulder on said sleeve and is confined ainst longitudinal movement by a collar locked to the shaft by a suitable set screw. The collar 44 is connected by a clevis pin indicated in Fig. 1, sn ported in a yoke frame 50, which is pivote at its lower end on a pin 52 supported in a bracket 51, adapted to be locked in osition by a bolt 53 engfiging a slot in t e horizontal portion of e bracket 43 secured to the A frame 3, said bracket having an enlarged opening thro h which the shaft 21 and the sleeve 37 exteiid, the opening being surrounded by a conical flange 42, which is ada ted to be enga ed by the interior conical ace of the clutc member 39 on the sleeve and serve as a brake when the members of the clutch are disengaged.

An internally threaded collar 46 engaging screw threads on the inner end of the sleeve 37 serves as an adjustable abutment for a helical spring 47 surrounding the shaft, the other end of which spring engages a collar 48 locked to the shaft by a set screw 49, said spring normally tendin to force the members of the clutch, carried by the sprocket 28 and the sleeve 37, respectively, into enagement. Pivotall mounted on the fixed racket 43 is a hand ever 55, which, through shaft or pintle 56, actuates a cam member 57 engaging the face of the yoke frame 50, the handle constituting a c utch lever for engaging and disengaging the members of the clutch, the said lever or handle being provided with a spring catch 58 ads ted to engage openings in a p ate 59 on the racket 43, said bracket being rovided with suitable set screws to limit t e movement of the clutch lever 55. When the clutch lever is moved to its ri ht hand position in Fig. 14,

the cam 57 ten 5 to move out of engagement 4 with the yoke frame 50 and the spring 47 forces 'the sleeve 37 longitudinally of the shaft, so that the clutch member on the end of said sleeve engages the clutch member on the sprocket 28 and the shaft is connected to the motor 31 and driven by the latter, the degree of frictional contact between the clutch members being accurately regulated by adjusting the tension of the spring 47 either by collar 49 or collar 46. If the clutch handle is moved to vertical position, the clutch'member 39 on sleeve 37 is in neutral position and either sprocket 28 or the shaft 21 may be rotated inde ndently of each other. When, however, t e clutch lever 55 is moved. to its extreme left hand position, as indicated in Fig. 14, the clutch member 39 on the sleeve engages the braking flan 42 on the bracket 43 and locks the sha against rotation, leaving the sprocket 28 free on the shaft.

Splined to the shaft 6 is a hollow cylindrical drum 60 having a central hub and s ider 61, the exterior surface of the drum ing rovided with a series of receptacle receivmg and sup rting pockets, disposed in circumferentia order, which pockets ma be formed either as integral portions 0 the drum or as separate elements in the form of a sectional ring 62 provided with armately notched flanges 63 spaced at regular intervals to constitute the pockets substantially conforming to the contour of the cans or other receptacles to be tested. The arrangement and disposition of the pockets is such as to accurately position the containers with reference to the testing apparatus.

Secured to the peripheral face of the drum in axial alignment with the several pockets 63 are vacuum chambers 80, which are shown in detail in Figs. 7 to 13, inclusive. Each vacuum chamber comprises a generally cylindricalcasting adapted to be secured to the peripheral face of the drum by bolts passing through holes in the drum and engaging threaded openings in the legs or bosses on the casting 80. Each chamber 80 is provided with a bottom opening bounded by an inwardly tapering rim within which opening issecured a sealing washer or gasket 100 of rubber or the like, which is held in position by a ring 101, which, in turn, is fastened about the inner peripheral edge of the opening in the casting by suitable screws. The gasket 100 and the chamber 80, as illustrated, are shaped to conform to the particular type of container to be tested, and, in the specific embodiment of the invention illustrated, the machine is adapted to op rate on containers having flexible ClOSlli elements, as illustrated in Fig. 11, in which case the gasket 100 is ring-shaped and is of a size and contour to engage as near the periphery of the closure of the container as possible, the function of the gasket being to seal thetop of the container in air type relation with the vacuum chamber.

Formed within the body of the vacuum chamber is a semi-circular duct 89, which communicates with aninlet duct 88 in the rear wall of the vacuum chamber. Also formed within the body of the chamber 80 are two valve chambers 90, 90 communicating with the respective ends of duct 89 I through ports surrounded by valve seats 91, the upper portions of the valve chambers being connected to the'open center of the vacuum chamber by ports 92,92. Cooperating with the valve seats 91 are pin valves 93, the lower end of the stems 94 of which extend beyond the inner face of the vacuum chamber adjacent the gasket 100. The

upper end of the stem of each pin valve is guided ina socketed plug 95 threaded into the top of the vacuum chamber and each valve is held to its seat by a helical spring 96, the tension of which may be regulated by adjusting the plug 95. Preferably the plug is hollow and is closed by a suitable cap, which permits access to the valve for cleaning, grinding and lubrication.

Threaded in the outer face of the vacuum chamber 80 is a cage 82, in which is mounted for reciprocatoryv movement, a pin 84, the

lower end of which is guided in a suitableopening in the lower end of the cage, the upper end being guided inan adjustable nut 83 threaded into the end of the cage and erving to regulate the pressureexerted by the helical spring 86 surrounding, the pin 7 and confined between an abutment 85 on the pin and the inner end of the nut 83, said abutment limiting the movement of the pin toward the open face ofthe vacuum chamber. The relative position of the extreme lower part of the pin 84 with reference to the opening in the lower face of the vacuum chamber may be regulatedby adjusting the cage 82 axially of the vacuum chamber, as Will be understood. Both the cage 82 and the nut 83 may be lockedin their adjusted positions by means. of studs or bolts 82 and 83, respectively, as indicated in Fig. 9, thereby preventing accidental displacement of the cage or variation in the force exerted by the spring 86 on the pin 84. I

Mounted on the front face of the vacuum chamber adjacent the cage 82 is a casting 102, secured in. position bysuitable bolts 103, said casting including journal bearings 104, 104 in which is mounted a shaft 105. Secured to the shaft 105 is a lever 106 having. an elongated hub 107 surrounding the shaft, which is connected to the latter by a pin 108, said lever having an extension 106' terminating in a horizontal bracket 116 to which is secured by screws 118 a stop or abutment 117 preferably formed of steel or the like, which extends beyond the lower face ofthe bracket and constitutes the means for locking the lever 106, under conditions to be hereinafter explained. The rocking movement of the lever 106 is limited in one direction by an abutment 109 formed on the hub or barrel 107, with which cooperates an adjusting set screw 110 mounted in a lug or extension on the bracket 102. The abutment-109 is normally held in engagement with the stop or screw 110 by means of a helical spring 113 which surrounds the shaft 105, with one end engaging an opening in journal hearing 104 and the other end engaging an opening in a knurled handle 1142, which is secured to the outer end of the shaft 105 by a suitable set screw 115, said handle 114 being thus adjustably connected to the shaft to permit the tension .on the spring to be regulated to the necessary degree to effect the return of the lever 106 to its normal posi tion without, however, requiring the application of much force to rock the lever 106 in its journal bearings as a necessary concomitant of the'testing operations, as will be hereinafter more particularly set forth. Mounted on the lever 106 iii-alignment with the pin 84 in the vacuum chamber isan adjustable set'screw 106", which is provided with a suitable'lock nut to hold it in adjusted position, so that, when the pin 84 is projected outwardly, it will engage the set screw 106" and rock the lever 106 in its bearings causingthe outer end 106 of said lever to be depressed. I

I to move the receptacle in the Mounted on the bracket 10" is a boss 121, which constitutes a bearing for a lock finger 120 which cooperates with the. abutment plate 117 secured to the bracket 116 on the end 106 of lever 106, the lock finger being normally held in engagement with the abutment plate 117 by means of a spring 122 one end of which engages the outer end 0 said lock finger, the helical body portion of the spring surrounding the boss 121 and the other end of the spring engaging one of a circular series of holes 123 in the base of the boss provided to permit adjustment of the tension of the spring.

Secured to the periphery of the drum in axial alignment with the pockets 63 and the vacuum chambers 80 is a series 0 plungers, each adapted to engage a receptacle carried in a corresponding pocket and ocket until the closure end 0 said receptac e is in sealing engagement with the gasket 100 carried by the cooperating vacuum chamber. These plungers are identical in construction and 'are illustrated in detail in Figs. 11, 12 and 13. Each of the plunger elements includes a cylindrical bearing block 64 provided with legs by means of which it is bolted to the periphery of the drum, as shown in Fig. 5. Slidably mounted in the bore of the bearing block 64 is ahollow plunger member 65 in which is telescopically mounted a plunger member 71 having a reduced outer ortion 71, the member 71 being retained wit in the hollow member 65 by means of a collar 72 secured by bolts 73 to the outer'edge of the member 65. The member 65 is held against rotation in the bearing block 64 by means of a spline or key, as indicated in Fig. 13. A helical spring 74 mounted in the hollow member 65 tends to force the latter outward until it is arrested by engagement with the collar 72, the spring beingdesigned to yield under excessive pressure to prevent damage to the mechanism and also to compensate for any variations in the heights of the containers being tested. Secured to the end 66 of the member 65 is a bearing pin 67, which is looked in position by a nut 68 and is provided with a roller preferably fitted with suitable wear washers, as indicated in Fig. 12. Fixed to the end of the plunger section 71 by a cross pin 76 is a circular table like element 7 5, which is adapted to engage the adjacentend of a container carried by the corresponding ocket 63 on the drum, when the plun er is actuated to force the closure end of the container into sealing engagement with the gasket 100 on the corres ondim vacuum chamber 80.

referably formed as an integral part of the housing 4 is a circular cam track 76 having a grooved periphery in which the rollers 70 of the plunger elements engage, said cam track having a low section eatending substantially throughout the first half of its periphery and a igh section for the remainder of its periphery, so that the plungers will be moved toward the vacuum chambers as these elements approach the u per limit of their rotary movement with the drum and the plungers will be moved in the opposite direction away from the vacuum chambers at or about the time the plunger and vacuum chambers reach the lower limit of their rotary movement with the drum.

Secured to an annular seat 61 formed on the spider of the drum is an annular valve casing 131, which is illustrated in detail in Figs. 5, 22, 23 and 24. The interior of the casing has a frusto-conical bore in'which f is accurately fitted a bushing 133, secured to the casing by bolts and clips 132, the bushing having a bore similar to that of the casing in which the central conical distributing valve 135 fits. Both the casing 131 and the bushing 133 are provided with aligning ports 134 and 134', respectively, as more particularly illustrated in Fig. 22, and each of the ports in the casing 131 is connected to the inlet port 88 of the corresponding vacuum chamber 80 by piping 130.

The distribution valve is of the full floating type and comprises a tapered plug 135, provided with a central opening through which the shaft 6 passes and abuts a thrust collar 141 having a conical or curved face engaging a complementary recess in the valve, said collar engaging an anti-friction bearing 142, 143, which, in turn, is acted upon by the annular thrust plate 144, which latter is engaged by plungers 145 mounted in openings in the hub of the drum, each plunger being acted upon by a helical spring 146 mounted in the opening in the hub, the tension of the spring being adjusted by a screw plug 147 engaging the threaded interior of the opening, as more particularly shown in Fig. 5. This coordination constitutes an anti-thrust compensating means for the valve plug 135 and, when properly adjusted, supports the valve in its casing, so that the casing may be revolved with the drum without danger of the stationary valve plug sticking in the casing. Formed in the outer face of the valve plug 135 are pockets 140 to receive com ensating springs 140 and locking pins 138, y means of which the plug is held against rotation and with the proper degree of pressure within itsrotary casing to prevent leakage between these parts. The pins 138 are carried by a collar or sleeve 137 having a perforated flange at one end in which the pins are slidably mounted, said flange carrying set screws 130. by means of WlllCll the pins 138 are adjusted to regulate the tension of the springs 140. The sleeve or collar 137 is provided at its other end with an exteriorly threaded flange which engages a threaded opening in the housing 4. It will beseen, therefore, that, byaccurately adjusting the compressive efl'ects of springs 140 and 146 to exactly compensate each other,'the valve 135 will be supported within the casing with a full floating efiect and at the same time will be maintained in" fluid tight engagement with the casing. The valve proper is provided with I a cover plate 136 secured-to the outer face of the valve by screws, which cover plate has openings therein-registering with openin the front face of the valve.

e valve 135 is provided with a threaded opening 150 at one side of the center, which is connected by suitable piping 170 with a .fluid pressure amp, not shown, which. is

designed to re uce the pressurein the several vacuum chambers 80 as connectionsbetween vthe vacuum chamber and the central valve 135 are successively established, as will be hereinafter-set forth. The port or 0 ening 150 communicateswith an arcuate c annel 151, which, in turn, is connected to ports 152, 153, 154 and 155 opening through the side of the valve body and adapted to be brought into registry successively with the openings 134' in' the valve bushing, therefore serving to establish communication between the vacuum'chambers 80 and the fluid pressure exhaust pump. Between the orts 152, 153, 154 and 155 and beyond the atter port is a series of ports 152", 153-, 154' and 155', in circumferential alignment with the ports 152, 153, 154 and 155, which are also adapted to be brought into registry withthe openin s 134 in the bushing and successively esta lish communication between the vacuum chambers 80 and the atmosphere, after each operation of reducing the atmospheric pressure within the vacuum chambers is effected by way of ports 152, 153, 154 and 155 successively, said ports 152, 153', 154' and 155' opening through the front face of the latter to the atmosphere, as indicated in Fig. 23.

Formed in the valve 135 and near the lower portion thereof, when the valve is in position, is a port 160, which is adapted to be connected by piping 175 with a tank 173 suspended from the under face of the table 1, which tank is connected to the fluid pressure or exhaust pump by a conduit 171,

which includes a pressure rcducin valve 172 by means of which a constant re etermined fluid ressure below that of t e atmosphere may em'aintained in the tank 173. 'The port 160 extends through the front face of the valve 135, where it is connected to the piping 175leading to the tank 173, to the lateral face of the valve wheresaid port is adapted to register with the openings 134'- in the bushin 133 and, therefore, to establish commun cation between the vacuum chambers 80 successively and the tank 173,

thereby developing in each of the vacuum the atmosphere by way of o enings 162,164

and 166 communicating wit the respective ports 161, 163 and 165.

From the foregoing descri tion of the valve in its various arts an connections, it will be apparent liat as the drum is rotated on a horizontal axis, the several vacuum chambers will be first alternate 1y put in communication with the exhaust pump and the atmosphere through ports 150 to 155, inclusive, so that successive res ductions and restorations of atmospheric pressure will be applied to the closures of the containers which are in sealed relation with the several vacuum chambers, the reduction in atmospheric pressure within the vacuum chambers being sufiicient to cause all of the closures of the containers to flip outwardly, the closures of defective containers in which the degree of internal vacuum is deficient or otherwise, the internal pressure is excessive, remainin permanently distended or bulged, whi e the closures of receptacles containing a normal degree of'vacuum or reduced pressure will be flipped outwardly and inwardly successively,'the purpose being tosubstantially stan ardize the resiliency of the metal of the closures, so that all of the closures will flip under the same uniform reduction of pressure, as will be more articularly-here= mafter explained. The unction of poirt 160 is to establish communication between the vacuum chambers at a predetermined point-of their travel, and the tank 173, so that the final or testing reduction of pressure is applied to the closure elements of each container in order to segre ate the defective containers from those t at are satisfactory. The ports 161, 163 and 165 are desi ed to successively establish communication between the vacuum chambers and the atmosphere, to restore the normal atmospheric pressure within the vacuum chambers, to permit the seal between ,the

vacuum chambers and the container closures 1 ort the lockingfingers 120 engage a 

